February Book Haul

Hoohoo, friends.

First of all, I am so proud. Of myself, because I bought only 5 books this month. Well, four technically because I bought one book in January but it was delivered just now. In addition to thos 5 physical books, I received 3 ARCs.

*note: every synopsis is from Goodreads*

• Hero at the Fall by Alwyn Hamilton (Rebel of the Sands #3)
  When gunslinging Amani Al’Hiza escaped her dead-end town, she never imagined she’d join a revolution, let alone lead one. But after the bloodthirsty Sultan of Miraji imprisoned the Rebel Prince Ahmed in the mythical city of Eremot, she doesn’t have a choice. Armed with only her revolver, her wits, and her untameable Demdji powers, Amani must rally her skeleton crew of rebels for a rescue mission through the unforgiving desert to a place that, according to maps, doesn’t exist. As she watches those she loves most lay their lives on the line against ghouls and enemy soldiers, Amani questions whether she can be the leader they need or if she is leading them all to their deaths.
• Scythe by Neal Shusterman
  A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery. Humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now scythes are the only ones who can end life—and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control.
  Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe—a role that neither wants. These teens must master the “art” of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own.
• Berühre mich. Nicht. by Laura Kneidl
  Als Sage in Nevada ankommt, besitzt sie nichts – kein Geld, keine Wohnung, keine Freunde. Nichts außer dem eisernen Willen, neu zu beginnen und das, was zu Hause geschehen ist, zu vergessen. Das ist allerdings schwer, wenn einen die Erinnerungen auf jedem Schritt begleiten und die Angst immer wieder über einen hereinbricht. So auch, als Sage ihren Job in einer Bibliothek antritt und dort auf Luca trifft. Mit seinen stechend grauen Augen und seinen Tätowierungen steht er für alles, wovor Sage sich fürchtet. Doch Luca ist nicht der, der er auf den ersten Blick zu sein scheint und als es Sage gelingt, hinter seine Fassade zu blicken, lässt dies ihr Herz gefährlich schneller schlagen.

• Iron Gold by Pierce Brown (Red Rising #4)
  A decade ago, Darrow was the hero of the revolution he believed would break the chains of the Society. But the Rising has shattered everything: Instead of peace and freedom, it has brought endless war. Now he must risk everything he has fought for on one last desperate mission. Darrow still believes he can save everyone, but can he save himself?
  And throughout the worlds, other destinies entwine with Darrow’s to change his fate forever:
  A young Red girl flees tragedy in her refugee camp and achieves for herself a new life she could never have imagined.
  An ex-soldier broken by grief is forced to steal the most valuable thing in the galaxy—or pay with his life.
  And Lysander au Lune, the heir in exile to the sovereign, wanders the stars with his mentor, Cassius, haunted by the loss of the world that Darrow transformed, and dreaming of what will rise from its ashes.

• Ignite the Stars by Maura Milan
  Everyone in the universe knows his name. Everyone in the universe fears him. But no one realizes that notorious outlaw Ia Cocha is a seventeen-year-old girl.
  A criminal mastermind and unrivaled pilot, Ia has spent her life terrorizing the Olympus Commonwealth, the imperialist nation that destroyed her home. When the Commonwealth captures her and her true identity is exposed, they see Ia’s age and talent as an opportunity: by forcing her to serve them, they will prove that no one is beyond their control.
  Soon, Ia is trapped at the Commonwealth’s military academy, desperately plotting her escape. But new acquaintances—including Brinn, a seemingly average student with a closely-held secret, and their charming Flight Master, Knives—cause Ia to question her own alliances. Can she find a way to escape the Commonwealth’s clutches before these bonds deepen?
• The Art of French Kissing by Brianna R. Shrum
  Seventeen-year-old Carter Lane has wanted to be a chef since she was old enough to ignore her mom’s warnings to stay away from the hot stove. And now she has the chance of a lifetime: a prestigious scholarship competition in Savannah, where students compete all summer in Chopped style challenges for a full-ride to one of the best culinary schools in the country. The only impossible challenge ingredient in her basket: Reid Yamada.
  After Reid, her cute but unbearably cocky opponent, goes out of his way to screw her over on day one, Carter vows revenge, and soon they’re involved in a full-fledged culinary war. Just as the tension between them reaches its boiling point, Carter and Reid are forced to work together if they want to win, and Carter begins to wonder if Reid’s constant presence in her brain is about more than rivalry. And if maybe her desire to smack his mouth doesn’t necessarily cancel out her desire to kiss it.

• Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman
  Kiko Himura has always had a hard time saying exactly what she’s thinking. With a mother who makes her feel unremarkable and a half-Japanese heritage she doesn’t quite understand, Kiko prefers to keep her head down, certain that once she makes it into her dream art school, Prism, her real life will begin.
  But then Kiko doesn’t get into Prism, at the same time her abusive uncle moves back in with her family. So when she receives an invitation from her childhood friend to leave her small town and tour art schools on the west coast, Kiko jumps at the opportunity in spite of the anxieties and fears that attempt to hold her back. And now that she is finally free to be her own person outside the constricting walls of her home life, Kiko learns life-changing truths about herself, her past, and how to be brave.
• A Shiver of Snow and Sky by Lisa Lueddecke
  On the frozen island of Skane, the sky speaks. Beautiful lights appear on clear nights, and their colours have meaning: Green means all is well, and the Goddess is happy. Blue means a snow storm is on the way.
  And then there’s red. Red is rare. A warning.
  Seventeen years ago, the sky turned red just as Ósa was born, unleashing a plague that claimed the lives of hundreds of villagers, including her own mother. This time, when the night sky once again bleeds crimson, she must discover how to stop the onslaught before so many lives are lost again.

And that is what I got.

Adieu & byebye,

Kat